Where Good Driving Starts.
Where Good 
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Al Bradford has been an ADI since 2015. After teaching manual with another school for a year, he felt that he needed new opportunities. A conversation with Pete in the test centre led to Al joining YES! in 2016. More recently, Al has switched to providing automatic driving instructor in Bearwood.
Al spent the previous 11 years in the Royal Marines as a landing craft operator. At the same time he became an instructor which is where he discovered his talent for teaching. He also learned how to communicate well with others and stay calm under pressure so you can be assured of a relaxed atmosphere with Al. Combining his experience as an instructor in the military and his professional training as an ADI, Al can offer an enjoyable, fun experience whilst developing your skills behind the wheel in preparation for your driving test and beyond.
Al believes in a positive and, more importantly, patient approach but will encourage you to achieve success at your own pace. He will also ensure you have a say in the learning process so that your goals are met when you want them to be.
Al recently achieved an A grade in his standards check scoring 50/51 and can offer the pass plus course to anyone beyond their driving test.
Based in Bearwood, Al has a great first time pass rate and offers lessons in Bournemouth, Poole and the surrounding areas.
When not teaching Al loves to spend time with his wife Claire and two children Jake and Emily, and has a passion for football, cricket and fishing.
We are confident that in Al you will find a patient, enthusiastic and fun instructor.
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Al is wonderfully patient, calm and knowledgeable. He helped me build my driving skills as well as my confidence in driving. It was an absolute pleasure to learn with him and I couldn’t recommend him more!
Al was absolute fantastic. I couldn’t have done it without him. I had failed 3 times previously with other instructors and I passed first time with Al. He kept me calm on the day and gave me all the best advice. I could not of asked for a better driving instructor.
Al has been so helpful and patient with my learning process. I felt no pressure when driving with him and was comfortable from the first lesson.
Would recommend to anyone looking for the right instructor! 🙂
I am so greatful to al bradford for all the help and guidance he provided.he is true expert in what he teaches. He is really calm and encouraging teacher.he gave me lott of confidence and positivity on his classes. On the test day he gave some crucial advises which helped me pass the exam. all the best to al for his upcoming days.proud to be his student.thank you al .
It’s taken a long time to get me onto the road but Al was always very patient, answered my many many questions and was extremely easy to learn with. I would and have already recommended Al to a lot of people looking for lessons!
Al is an amazing teacher. He takes time to explain things clearly and actually teach. He also has a lot of patience and takes a calm approach which helped me because I was a nervous driver
Very good guidance from my instructor!
He made sure I drove safely not just for the test but in the future. I couldn’t have done this without him
He’s amazing!! I passed first time with him!
Al was a perfect driving instructor and had a lot of patience helping me pass my practical driving test! I passed on my first time and not only felt prepared for the test but also driving safely for the future. Thank you Al!
It takes a special kind of person to be able to negotiate a working relationship with a teenager and Al managed to do so with considerable skill! He was patient, pragmatic and calm as well as being highly knowledgeable and skilled, with tips and tricks to help guide my daughter to a successful test result. We really appreciated Al’s help and the efforts he went to to make sure he was available consistently for lessons.
We wouldnt hesitate to recommend Al to anyone looking for an outstanding instructor.
Al was a great instructor! He was very patient, calm and supportive. After passing my test in Poole I feel safe and confident driving on my own. Thank you very much!
Al was a fantastic teacher, and I always felt supported whilst learning how to drive. Would highly recommend!!
Al B is a very honest and down to
earth guy who just wants you to
be safe when driving on the road. Not only does he teach you how to drive safely on the
road he truly wants you to pass! Taking lessons with Al B was definitely the best thing I have done I can finally take my little family on days out without relying on others!
You won’t regret taking lessons with him! I’m a quite nervous person and Al would always talk me through things and answer my numerous “silly” questions. I can’t thank him enough for helping me pass (first time might I add).
Once again thank you Al!!
Hi Al.. Thank you so much for your help and endless support in getting my licence. With your guidance and patience you taught me the skills to become a safe driver. Thank you for giving me the confidence to drive and helping me to overcome my nervousness.
I highly recommend yes driving to get your licence.
Al was a pleasure and helped me pass first time despite my anxiety and the break between lockdowns. Enjoyed our chats about football. Highly recommended!
I had a pleasure to have 10 hours driving with Al which has led to my personal success of passing my exam. I live in London but due to lack of available exams in my area i decided to try pass in Poole. It is very difficult to book any lessons in postcovid time but Al made sure he found free time for me. As i dont know Poole at all Al tried to show me all routes which i could get during my exam. He also spent plenty of time with me on roundabouts which were my nightmares. He opened my eyes for stuff which i never paid attention to. Thank to him my Life looks much easier and brighter now. And i will be forever greatful….
Al helped me get test ready after having to split my lessons between my home town and my Uni town. He was a fantastic teacher, he encouraged me to be the best driver I can be which was reflected in my passing first try with only 2 minors, despite some last minute Covid shake-up with my test. Thank you Al for all your hard work getting me here!
I and writing with the euphoria of just passing my driving test. I was referred to YES driving school on the heel of a driving test failure and a previous instructor that shattered my confidence. I met Al who built my confidence back again. He is very patient, no mistake is too great for him and he never loses his cool. Thank you Al from the bottom of my heart.
I have recently had some refresher driving lessons with Al. Although I’ve been driving for many years I am new to the area and my confidence wasnt great, however, Al was very patient and gave me some great tips on driving that I had struggled with for years. I would thoroughly recommend Al for both new learners and those wanting refresher lessons. Thanks Al, you’ve helped get me on the road again!!
I had a driving lesson from mr Al , and big thankx to Mr. Al Bradford. during the lession I found him very friendly CALMand god behaviour, he is one of the best instructors i have found and he passed me and I will definitely recommanded YES DRIVING SCHOOL, who want to learn automatic car. All the best.
I would definitely recommend YES! Driving School. Al was incredibly patient and understanding. I wouldn’t have been able to pass without him!
I had a good experience working with Al. He really cares about helping his students achieve the right skills to pass the driving exam.
I was dealing with a tight deadline, though Al made sure to fit me into his already booked schedule. Through his extensive knowledge, I was well prepared and successfully passed my driving exam the first time.
I would highly recommend Al
I would like to say big thanks to Al. He is really helpful and knowlegedgeble instructor. He was explaining everything to ensure I was getting better at driving! I am so glad that I had an opportunity to pass my practical test with him. Highly recommend Al as a driving instructor !
Thank you so much for your help and support in getting my licence.Your lessons were very informative and I really appreciated your professional attitude.I would highly recommend Al Bradford as a driving instructor.
My journey in driving has not been easy, as I had no strong desire to drive. I am nearly 40, so I thought I am too old to start to learn driving.
Al was amazing, patient, calm, chilled and very easy going. He truly makes you feel relaxed and has a very positive attitude. I enjoyed every one of my lessons.I have passed my driving test first time.
Thank you so much YES Driving School!
Will definitely recommend!
The driving lessons I had with my instructor Al were amazingly helpful and stress-free. He is a great instructor with lots of knowledge and relevant experience and his method of teaching driving is flawless. I definitely recommend Yes Driving and Al Bradford.
Al was brilliant, he was patient, understanding and provided me with lots of encouragement which enabled me to pass my test first time. I would definitely recommend Al as an instructor.
Al was a great teacher, very flexible with lessons and very thorough when teaching
I will always be eternally grateful to Al for helping me pass my driving test first time. He immediately made me feel at ease and we progressed through the syllabus at a speed appropriate to my ability and confidence. Throughout the process of learning, Al was reassuring, calm and kind. If you get the opportunity to learn to drive with Yes driving school and Al, I would highly suggest you do! Cheers Al!
Al has played a pivotal role in getting me through my test. He has given me support and encouragement and the skills to believe in myself and my ability.
He was always on time, my lessons were well planned, his feedback constructive, and most of all calm and patient. I cannot recommend him and his style highly enough. 5 stars!
Al helped me overcome my nerves and he gave me the the confidence to drive. His calm demeanour is how I passed my driving test first time. Many thanks!
Al was a brilliant instructor – I cant rate him highly enough. So patient and calm and very clear in his teaching. Got me though my test first time. Brilliant
Is an excellent instructor very calm and helpful for a new learner I pass first time with him I’m so thankful Thank you
Al Bradford is one of their best instructor, I ever had with great patience and very good understanding of my needs. I can’t thanks him enough. I passed my driving test from first time. I would recommend him to anyone he makes you feel positive the faults that you do he takes time to explain to you so you understand.
Once again big thank you.
I’m so happy that I have chosen Yes driving school and I met Al Bradford which is one of their best instructor, with great patience and very good understanding of your needs. I can’t thanks him enough. I passed my driving test from first time.
Al was a very good instructor. Helped me get over my fear of roundabouts which was my main problem. I am a better driver because of Al.
Al was a great instructor: very patient and relaxed. He did not overcomplicate maneuvers and instruction but gave me the right amount of input. Al answered questions clearly and did a great job in giving me extra input and encouragement throughout lessons but especially in the two weeks prior to my test which helped me mentally prepare for the test. I passed my test the first time with ONE fault!!! Thanks, Al!
I’d hunted high and low for an instructor who had taught deaf/hard of hearing people like myself. Despite the fact that Al had no such experience he completely took it in his stride, we made up our own hand signals and methods of communication and made it work. I found Al to be extremely patient, knowledgeable and great company. He helped to boost my confidence and I achieved a pass first time. It was a pleasure to learn with him and I’d thoroughly recommend him to anyone!
Great driving experience with great instructor.
Always on time for lessons , patient, calm very professional and friendly at the same time. Thanks Al for your great support and for helping me pass the driving test.
Al is a patient and an accomodating instructor picking me up at 7am for a test. He is happy for you to keep practicing the same mistakes in order to improve. Highly recommend Al.
Al is an amazing instructor !because of him I pass my test first time !always calm and I became so confident because of him!!couldn’t recommend a better person !!thank you so much!!
Had a great time with Al, he has been an amazing driving instructor and because of him I passed my test first time. Would highly recommend him as a automatic driving instructor.
Patient, calm and organised. Always on time for lessons. Passed with only 15 hours. Great instructor! Definitely recommend!
Great driving instructor!! Always on time for lessons and really supportive and patient with me! Teaches the techniques in a easy way as well! Overall super nice and friendly!! Thank you for getting me a pass first time with no faults!!!!���
I have been driving with AL for around 7 months. He has helped me get very confident in driving and put up with the many mistakes I made. I would recommend him for any new learner as he is easy to talk to and very good instructer.
Al Bradford has been a great instructor from the beginning of the time I spent driving right until the end. He made everything feel so easy and gave me great confidence when we were leading up to the test. I would highly recommend using Al as your driving instructor.
I needed to set up some lessons as quickly as possible because my test date was around the corner and i never had enough time due to the nature of my job. After unsuccessfully search to get an instructor because all were fully booked i was introduced to this great lad “Al”… I will give all credit to Al after God because he literally made me pass on my “first attempt”. He prioritised what i needed to know. He pushed me to make sure i passed in a very limited time frame. I and my wife passed on our first attempt. I’ll forever be grateful mate. We owe you one. I will always recommend Al if you want to pass your test. He’s very calm, supportive and gives a true reflection of the amount of work needed to be done. He’s exceptional in what he does. He’s a great instructor. Many thanks
I passed my driving test first time. Thanks to the instructor Al BRADFORD. He was very calm and patient with me while I was learning. The way he taught was easy to understand. I will highly recommend him!
Al is an amazing instructor. He is patient , calm and very good at keeping things relaxed. Always on time for lessons and is organised with lesson plans. Al has a natural ability to teach and choose the right techniques for you individually. I really appreciated the way Al made lessons challenging but knew exactly when to change the tempo back down to something easier. I passed on my first attempt with Al as my instructor. I will definitely recommend him and hope to see him for my pass plus in the future.
Calm and patient instructor, who is reachable and very easy to talk to. Didn’t feel any awkwardness when I started to learn with him and there was always a positive and relaxed vibe in the car. Cheers Al!
Al is such a good instructor! He’s very patient and calm, which makes learning easier. I would recommend him to anyone who wanted to learn to drive!
Best driving instructor ever! Ask for al Bradford by name and you won’t be disappointed, I passed first time because of him and instantly he made me feel relaxed and more like I was driving with a friend rather than an instructor, I’ve always been shy but he made me feel like I could ask any question, no matter how stupid I thought it was and I’ve become a confident driver because of him, I’d recommend him to anyone (although he’s only teaching in an automatic now) as you’re guaranteed to enjoy lessons and become the best driver you can be. Thank you al
Best driving instructor ever! Ask for al Bradford by name and you won’t be disappointed, I passed first time because of him and instantly he made me feel relaxed and more like I was driving with a friend rather than an instructor, I’ve always been shy but he made me feel like I could ask any question, no matter how stupid I thought it was and I’ve become a confident driver because of him, I’d recommend him to anyone as you’re guaranteed to enjoy lessons and become the best driver you can be. Thank you al
Al is a wonderful instructor; always patient and calm, and I don’t think I could’ve asked for a better instructor. He always arrived 5 minutes before the lesson, and he always told me in good time if the times needed to be changed in addition to being very flexible when it came to adding more lessons in a week. It’s obvious that he is very knowledgable about cars and driving. He helped me pass the first time! 🙂
I passed first time, 0 driving faults with Al.
Great driving instructor, friendly, explained everything you need to know.
Would highly recommend as an instructor.
I had Al as an instructor for some time and never once have I recalled him being late to a lesson. He always arrived early and provided the same quality teaching per lesson, with clear communication about how the rules of the road worked etc. He always remained calm and never got frustrated when I made a mistake. He made the lesson very relaxing and enjoyable, always answering my questions with precision. Would recommend to anyone wishing to pass their test at the first attempt. Very flexible with time too, can accommodate many lessons. Cheers for helping me pass my test 1st time and wish you much success in the future.
Fantastic instructor. I would recommend him to anyone. He was very clear and went through everything so well. He helped me to become more confident in my abilities. I really enjoyed learning to drive thanks to his calm and brilliant instruction. Thanks so much Al
Really good instructor whos calm, patient and knows a lot about driving. I would highly recommend having Al as a driving instructor to anyone
Al was a great instructor, he explained things well and remained calm throughout my driving. He helped me pass 1st time and living away at boarding school it was great to get a week intensive lessons every time I was home on school holidays. Thanks Al 🙂
Al was brilliant! He was patient and helpful throughout all lessons. He was clear when explaining things and extremely understanding if I ever did anything wrong. Thanks so much Al you were definitely one of the reasons I past!
I would definitely recommend Al! When I first started my driving lessons, I was extremely nervous, however, Al’s very calm nature allowed me to grow in confidence which enabled me to pass first time. Every lesson was well organised and focused on a different aspect of driving, whilst Al’s attention to detail and clear advice allowed me to improve every week. I also found the theory test revision website extremely useful. Al was always very approachable and easy to talk to – fantastic instructor!
Al is a brilliant driving instructor, I came to Al after not being happy with progress from previous instructor. Al is very patient and made me feel very comfortable behind the wheel. Any areas I needed improvement on, Al put his focus on that. I then went on to pass my test first time! Anyone needing lessons.. I strongly recommend this man!
After changing six different instructors, I finally found Al on the Yes! driving website. I must say that the first impression is that of a very professional ADI that takes his job seriously and puts the needs of the learners first. Always happy to give advice and will guide you throughout the entire lesson explaining everything you need to know or are unsure about. I've failed my first driving test with many faults and even serious ones but, after training with Al, I've passed my 2nd test with only 3 minors. Overall a great instructor and I would recommend him to anyone.
Al is a fantastic driving instructor. I considered myself to be a very nervous learner driver, but Al made me feel very comfortable, and confident in my own driving abilities.He has shown great patience with me and is very easy to get along with and chat to, which made my lessons very enjoyable to take. Al took the time to discuss any problem areas with lots of helpful advice and examples to help me understand what I needed to do.
I found Al to be very calm and patient. I had 29 hours of driving lessons with him (20hours in one week and 9hours before my test) i passed first time with only 2 faults, cannot recommend him highly enough!when it came to the theory, he helped a lot as well as the Yes driving school theory website, at the end of the lessons we did hazard perception tests, which helped towards me passing my theory first time. Even though i had long hours with him, it seemed to have flown by quickly as we had a lot of fun along the way. Thank you so much Al for everything!
Al is a brilliant instructor. I passed my test first time today and have been learning with him since the start. He's very calm, understanding and knowledgable. Each lesson was always very well planned and I knew what I would be doing each lesson and we would always discuss where I went wrong. I couldn't recommend Al more to anybody that wants to get out on the road – brilliant instructor, 5/5!
Top driving instructor, calm and patient and genuinely interesting to talk to. Lessons were always planned in advance so no time was wasted at the beginning of the lesson.
Al is an amazing driving instructor! I passed my test second time with him. He is always patient and calm. I have been pregnant the whole time i have been doing lessons with Al and he is very understanding. So glad you helped me pass before the baby is due Al! I will definitely recommend Al to friends, family and anyone who is wanting to get on the road! Thank you 🙂 x
Al has an innate knack for the job. Not only that he is highly skilled and knowledgeable, likewise, he is very organized, pretty calm and patient. The flow of our every session is always well-planned and agreed upon. He asks and gives feedback. He simplifies, explains and demonstrates things to my level of understanding. He is easy to get along with! He is very professional; always comes ahead of our appointment time! Given the short period of 16 hours with him in the test roads of Poole (I already failed once in London), just yesterday, I PASSED!;) I'm happy to give Al a PERFECT 10!;)
Such a great teacher! I loved all the lessons I had with Al! I'd definitely recommend him to everyone! I passed first time with one minor today! So chuffed with that, all thanks to Al!
Al is a great driving instructor as he is so easy to get along with which makes lessons more comfortable. This made my progression so much faster and allowed me to pass first time with 1 minor. I would recommend Al to anyone learning how to drive and my best friend is now with him. He organsies lesson before you get in the car to allow you to not waste time thinking of what you need to practice which means you get maximum value for money
Each lesson has been well organised and finishes with a little debrief of how it went, followed by what will be practised in the upcoming lesson. Also appreciate the text message reminders for lessons. Would definitely recommend, Al has always been on time, and flexible to add more lessons in, despite have a busy schedule. Very happy with the service provided.
Great instructor and teaching methods, passed first time round after his tuition. Would highly recommend to all. Thanks again, couldn't have done it without you.
Al is a great instructor! He's nice, patient and very helpful when it comes to advice. Thank you for helping me pass first time!
Would definitely recommend Al as an instructor! Passed today, first time! He's such a nice guy and always makes you feel calm when driving! Lessons are always fun, will miss them! Thanks for everything!
A massive thank you to Al for helping me pass my test 1st time! such a brilliant instructor, makes you feel very comfortable and confident in your abilities whilst learning and has a very nice calm and relaxed way of teaching you, would highly recommend!
Al got me through my test first time, fantastic instructor always early to lessons and a very easy car to learn in! Fully recommend, thanks!
Al is a supportive instructor. He his precise with his advices, and is patient. He is really good at keeping me calm, gives clear explanations and has taught me the most important thing: to believe in my self!
I would recommend Al to anyone that want a good driving instructor.Thank you for helping me pass first try.
Passed my test with Al today and wouldn’t have been able to do it without him. Have had a few driving instructors before and none of them have been as good as Al. He helped me progress really fast, stayed calm, always friendly and very reliable. Would 100% recommend Al to anyone starting lessons. Thank you so much Al, all the best for the future!
Would one hundred per cent recommend to everyone. Very supportive and kind, has taught me ever so well, and I don't think I could have gotten through my lessons as well as I did without him as my instructor. Thank you ever so much for all your help! Good luck for the future!
Thank you to Al for making every lesson enjoyable and for your patience with me! Thanks for helping me build my confidence with driving! I'm going to miss our lessons! If you're looking for the best driving instructor around contact Al!
Such a fab instructor! Gave me so much confidence, thank you!
Passed first time today(24/02) with Ali. Great guy! Would highly recomend! Had a different instructor prior to Ali and there was no comparison. Almost gutted to pass!!All the best mate!
Amazing – best instructor! definitely 5/5! Thank you sooo much :)11/15
I would highly recommend him, very professional, thanks Al!
Helped me fit back into driving and really helped to iron out my bad habits. 09/15
Big al helped me pass first time! At 45 thought I would never do it, but Al gave me confidence and taught me very well. Also very honest guy and would recommend Al to anyone !! Good luck in the future Al and thank you 09/15
Amazing instructor, very helpful and understanding. Would highly recommend! 01/16
The best driving instructor around. Really friendly guy and very patient. I had lessons with other instructors before Al and he was the best by far. Would always recommend! 10/15
Brilliant instructor helped me pass first time very helpful and patient. And all round good guy09/15
Best driving instructor, helped me so much with my confidence! Friendly and made my driving lessons really enjoyable! Thank you al 🙂 01/16
Awesome instructor, I highly recommend Al… Couldn't of done it without you mate. All the best for the future!01/16
Highly professional, couldn't recommend highly enough! Always friendly, stays calm and gives constructive feedback throughout. A real pleasure to have learnt from Al!
Bradbury Centre, 300 Aldermoor Rd, Southampton, Southampton SO16 5NA, UK
